THEY’RE BA-A-A-A-A-CK: BIRD SCOOTERS SET TO REINSERT THEIR DANGER AND ILLEGALITY ON THE SIDEWALKS AND ROADWAYS OF ‘VIBRANT AND DYNAMIC’ PITTSFIELD
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION APRIL 14-6, 2023) — “A well-a everybody’s heard about the bird. Ba, ba, ba bird, bird, bird, bird-bird a-wella wella Bird Bird, B-b-b bird a-wella don’t you know about the Bird? Wellllllllll everybody’s talkin’ about the bird” and so on.
We first heard the immortal tune “Surfin’ Bird” by the Trashmen on station WKBW in Buffalo, NY, on The Joey Reynolds Show. ‘KBW‘s signal carried well into the rarified air of Western Massachusetts, and THE PLANET‘s GE portable transistor radio picked up the signal. It was that same radio we would sneak into the classroom during World Series time, same one on which we first heard “I Want to Hold Your Hand” by some English band called The Beatles.
THE PLANET is consequently pleased to say that not only we but also Pittsfield mayor Linda Tyer know that “Bird is the Word” — She and her magnificent king of the road, Rickey Rumpus.
They just announced that the notorious Bird scooters will be back again for another dangerous, vandal-filled summer. Yup. Flat and Rumpus once again are giving Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski The Bird.
———- ooo ———-
It’s easier to find an 1891 Eagle $20 gold piece in your spare change than to get official information about Pittsfield first year with the Birds. Anecdotal evidence, however, strongly suggests the scooters flopped, causing many accidents and numerous violations of the law. The only ones who used them, so it seemed, were bored 14-year-old boys just back from their vaping and drug taking.
Alison McGee, that double liability to Pittsfield taxpayers through her disservice on the school committee and her unswerving efforts to cement the mountain bike Nazis in Springside Park, argued that the Birds, like those $5,000 bikes, were for children “of color” who were purposely excluded by the city’s institutional racism.
So tell THE PLANET: How many children “of color” did you see on a Bird Scooter last year? For that matter, how many Bird Scooters did you see legally piloted by anyone 18 or older, wearing a helmet, obeying traffic laws, and riding in the bike lane? Yeah. The same number as the answer to “What is 2 minus 2?”
Pittsfield may hide the data, but we dug for similar information elsewhere, realizing that as bad as the Birds are in those nether reaches, multiply the dysfunction by a factor of 5 or 10 to get what it was like in “vibrant and dynamic” land of Benigno Numine.
———- ooo ———-
Here’s is a compilation of THE PLANET‘s research:
From The Verge:
The news comes on the heels of a massive shakeup at Bird that saw the company’s founder and CEO Travis VanderZanden replaced by president and chief operating officer Shane Torchiana. (VanderZanden remains chair of the board.) Several other executives have left in recent months as the company’s financial outlook continued to worsen. In June, the New York Stock Exchange warned Bird it was at risk of being delisted if its stock continued to trade under $1.
Bird now has a market capitalization of $110 million, which as Oversharing’s Alison Griswold notes, is just 4 percent of its $2.8 billion valuation in January 2020. Griswold also notes that the company has laid off 23 percent of its staff since the beginning of the year and shut down its nascent retail scooter and bike business.
It’s ironic that Bird would cite the absence of regulations as its reason for leaving certain cities, considering it was one of the first companies to take advantage of the lack of any clear rules around dockless vehicles to launch its shared scooter business.
From ABC News:
Matt Fisher spent nearly a year working for Bird, first as a charger, then as a field operations associate tasked with repairing the scooters. Fisher says Bird officials told him to ignore problems like stripped or missing screws and loose handlebars.
Fisher showed Eyewitness News an internal message sent by a Bird official. It says problems with scooter brakes should be listed as “damaged,” but missing or damaged screws, loose necks or handlebars and other problems should not be a reason to take a Bird scooter off the road.
From WRI.org
Some, however, have raised concerns about scooters’ safety, given their small size, lower center of gravity than bikes, relatively high speeds, some cases of scooters breaking unexpectedly and exposure to conflicts with vehicles or pedestrians.
Recent studies in the United States found that riding a scooter does carry some risks. However, they generally indicate that scooters are no more dangerous in terms of risk of serious injury or death than other modes of transport.
While more data is needed to fully understand relative risks across modes, we do know cities are becoming deadlier for all non-motorized users—that cars are hitting and killing pedestrians, cyclists and others at unacceptable rates. The arrival of scooters only lends more urgency to the effort to make it safer for people to move around cities without relying on cars.
From Clearvu Health:
They found that most people who got injured were the riders themselves. (91.6% vs 8.4% of non-riders) Most of the injured riders were younger adults between ages 18 and 40. These are likely the target demographic for these scooters, which are often rented out by tech companies such as Lyft and Bird.
C15% of those injuries were traumatic brains wounds. Fifty-five percent of riders were injured on the street, 33% on the sidewalk and 12% in other locations. The study found that 16% of incidents involved motorized vehicle directly (a collision) or indirectly (swerving to avoid a collision). Another 17% involved a curb, an object or a manhole. (source: World Resources Institute)
Lawsuits and settlements are skyrocketing.
———- ooo ———-
You don’t have to “Pittsfield this up”: The problem Bird is trying to solve is a seemingly intractable one.
- Riders have a difficult time tracking down available scooters when they want one.
- And scooters sometimes block sidewalks, obstructing the path for people in wheelchairs and other pedestrians with mobility concerns.
- They all end up cluttered in a handful of places rather than spread evenly around a city.
Next time you see some youngster illegally whizzing dangerously by, give that kid The Bird. The duck when he pulls a gun.
Have a great weekend, everybody.
“Stand for something. Always have class. And be humble” — John Madden.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE”
LOVE TO ALL.
Copyright (c) 2023 By Dan Valenti, PLANET VALENTI and EUROPOLIS MANAGEMENT. All rights reserved. The views and opinions expressed in the comment section or in the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not necessarily endorsed by the operators of this website. PLANET VALENTI assumes no responsibility for such views and opinions, and it reserves the right to remove or edit any comment, including but not limited to those that violate the website’s Rules of Conduct and its editorial policies. Those who leave comments own all the responsibilities that are or can be attached to those comments, be they rhetorical, semantic, or legal. Such commentators remain solely responsible for what they post and shall be and remain solely accountable for their words. PLANET VALENTI shall not be held responsible for the consequences that may result from any posted comment or outside opinion or commentary as provided in, but not limited to, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. We serve as a marketplace of ideas, without prejudice and available to all. All users of this site — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else — hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice and their use of/participation in this site. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer.
So many issues and your giving us the Bird!
What’s your favorite issue?
Can I call you KNO 3?
Can’t speak for Elizabeth but in my household our favorite issue is Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
Sarcasm: I observed an obese resident of Pittsfield riding around the city on a Bird Scooter. He went to the Pot Kingdom on Dalton Avenue and smoked a joint. Then he became hungry, so he went to McDonald’s and ate 2 Big Macs, a large order of French fries, and a large soda. His high was wearing off, so he went to the package store and bought himself some nip bottles that he proceeded to litter around the city. He had a few extra dollars, so he went to the A-Mart on North Street and bought four $50 scratch tickets in hopes of winning some easy cash, but he was unlucky and the worthless $50 scratch tickets ended up on littered on the street next to the empty nip bottles. His buzz started to wear off, so he went to one of the drug houses to purchase some of the good stuff from one of the over 1,000 DIE gang members who call inner-city home. On his drug-induced high, he buzzed around the city at lightning speed until he crashed into a car with a city parking ticket on its windshield. He tried to flee the scene, but a police cruiser pulled him over and confiscated his damaged Bird Scooter. He blamed the city government for putting his life at risk, and then he proceeded to file a lawsuit for damages. In his lawsuit, he claimed that Mayor Linda Tyer’s administration is sitting on over $17 million in “Free Cash” and that he was seeking damages for emotional distress just like the mayor’s third husband Barry Clairmont for financial damages for being overtaxed, while “Kufflinks” sits on his secretive Slush Funds and “Cooks the Books”. He said he would drop the lawsuit if Pittsfield State Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier passed a law legalizing Happy Endings Massage Parlors because he is not lucky with the ladies in town. He said that Becket State Senator Paul Mark should advocate for bigger cash prizes from the state lottery SCAM so that he could have access to easy cash for all of his sinful activities. The Judge dismissed his lawsuit because he did not include Melissa Mazzeo’s alleged defamation by speaking out about corruption in Pittsfield politics. He refiled his lawsuit to include that Melissa Mazzeo alleged corruption in Pittsfield politics. His case will go to trial in October 2023 a few weeks prior to the city election a few weeks later on November 7th, 2023. He said that if he loses his lawsuit, he will appeal the decision in a new class action lawsuit with Barry Clairmont because Melissa Mazzeo should not have the right to Free Speech when she alleges corruption in Pittsfield politics. In closing, it all started with the Bird Scooters snarling the streets of Pittsfield, Massachusetts!
Did the obese citizen have the initials B.C.?
How about a self service happy ending parlor on North Street?
North Street art: A self-service Happy Endings Massage Parlor, a stand with a Rolodex from 2003 next to a barstool from 1997, a statue of the city’s 3am vigilante, a throne in honor of Pittsfield’s Pot King surrounded by mini thrones for the city’s poop kings and queens, baskets full of empty nip bottles and worthless scratch tickets outside of A-Mart, 15 empty storefronts with signs that read “Welcome to Social Services Alley by day and The Shooting Gallery after hours”, an old fashioned street sign that reads 1,435 miles to Naples, Florida, a painting of “Kufflinks” Cooking the Books, the downtown unemployment agency named after John Krol, the rubber stamp museum named after Peter Marchetti, and an invisible space to reference the fictional Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski family.
Where’s Ralph Nader when you actually want him?
Sir Charles what’s the best way to get in touch with you?
You can find him every day at the looney bin.
That is not very nice Pete and also unbecoming of a mayoral candidate.
Really – you think that’s Pete? I hadn’t thought of him as a pretentious man.
It’s not, Sir Chaz. WW’s posts come across exactly as you read them. An angry, bitter man who has low self-esteem and is not respected by others.
Mr. Worldwide has been demasked as none other than Pittsfield’s famous vigilante, Dirty Barry Clairmont.
Cumberland Farms on First Street has been trying to get him back to patrol the parking lot again. After he declared it safe and crime free, at 3AM on a bitter cold Sunday morning, it’s become a real dump again.
What’d say Mr Worldwide? The hot dogs are steaming on the rollers, plenty of Snickers bars, and a super-sized Slushee to wash it all down. It’ll help you through the first 15 minutes of your shift and give you a boost of energy.
Cumbys has armed security if you want to call them that. Most I have seen have no really training, carrying pepper spray guns, because they do not have a license to carry and people of color. It is still a joke who this company hires. You get what you pay for.
Can’t you hear the gavel slam in the background?
Only second tuesdays @ 6:00. Sounds like your looney bin has has a busier schedule.
Can we find you at Steven Valenti’s trying to buy a lawsuit?
413 884-3570
Oh. I Thought it was 867-5309
Thank you
And THE PLANET thanks Sir Chaz for his regular communication on and to this board. That opportunity is there for ALL councilors and city personnel. And some actually do. He is the only one, however, who uses his name, openly. Now that’s a lad who’s got a pair.
Would be funny if all the people here were councilors and staff. The place where honest talk happens.
There are several to a bunch. Some communicate not on this board but in other ways. The only way I could do all this stuff is that I have a Carl-Sagan-“billion” sources.
Soooo…
You charge us a subscription to insult each other?
Charge? Whatchoo talking’ bout, CHAZ? You get THE PLANET at no cost!! So duz everyone else. Get real, lad.
Just kidding, Dan. An amusing notion is all.
Got it!
He’s driving his vintage Corvair around.
Bingo. If only we could go back to those days when a car loan didn’t look like a mortgage.
Does the city make money from the birds or do we subsidize them? Did they get Covid money or any other perks or benefits like so many other friends of the mayor? How could we find out?
OH, I know, we could ask our open and honest mayoalr candidate, city council president for this information and I bet not only would he provide it but also documentation to back it up. And he is running on his record of dutifully serving the people so this should not take long.
Thanks again Pete for all you do for us.
So what I am saying is that Pete says he is running on his record.. And if that low bar is what he thinks Pittsfield deserves I am highly insulted that he does not think we deserve better. Much better.
If he does not pull out of the race we should start a preemptive impeachment just in case he somehow gets elected. The city will need to start a major recovery process after its prior eight years and certainly does not need another four years of the same.
He has proven leadership….. what the hell does that mean???? And let’s not forget the semi mediocre parades. Pete baby. Tell us what you actually did on the council and why Pittsfield is better for it?
Well thumbs downers! I can’t hear you.
The Petes have gathered up a group of groupies to tune in and give thumbs down. Kinda desperate but he cannot make himself look good so he is just trying to do damage control. If he had just done his job as council president he would have walked into this mayor position. It is too late now however, and all the lipstick in the world is not going to make this pig pretty for the voters.
You could ask Pete about recall options. He is something of an expert on that.
I believe there is a state program that issues some type of benefit card for them
Whaaaaaa, my ice cream is too cold, my soup was too hot. Yesterday the weather was too darn nice. Those damn birds chirping in the morning make too much noise. Whaaaaaa
There, there IN DA. We know, we know. Calm down, take a stress pill, and go back to your private amusements. It’ll get better. We promise!
We know you prefer baaaaaaaaa.
Barry?
Slow news day Dan? This is scraping the bottom of the barrel.
Thanks MOLLY! Sometimes ya gotta climb high to get the fruit.
The fruit might climb higher
Barry?
Hairy Barry to Craig
Earth to Dingy Barry at Cumbies….,go ahead. Make my hot dog. Did he eat 5 or did he eat six? Well did I punk?
“King of the road” Ricky Rumpus reminds me of Roger Miller’s song. Maybe Rumpus will be pushing a broom after the next mayoral election? I have a feeling this scootering season will be worse than last season for the citizens of Pittsfield.
Two of them were in silver lake yesterday, not sure if they were tossed in or if they found two bodies in the lake.
The Bird ’95 purred away a real horrowshow – a nice, warm vibraty feeling all through your guttiwuts
Well done, O my brother. Viddy well.
I would like to add a couple of additions to your post Dan.
(1) I would like to correct you on the number of adults over 18 legally riding a Byrd and wearing a helmet. The answer is actually 1. None other than Ricky Rumpus himself. Remember when he was photographed piloting the Byrd down Elm Street in the last year or so? He looked like a true Rumpass in that picture too.
If I knew how to cut and paste that photo of Rumpus on the scooter and put it on here I would.
(2) In addition to the scooters and $5,000 mountain bikes being for ‘children of color,’ you must never forget ‘climate change.’ Or is it ‘climate crisis’ now? I can never keep up. I quit paying attention at plastic soda bottles being the planets demise 30+ years ago.
Dina Horton-Chang-Hernandez-Tucker-Lipschitz-Gueil (D-climate czar) will tell you that scooters cut down on everyone’s carbon footprint. It will also save the Earth and help keep homeruns down. Because you know, chic’s like the longball and Dina hates straight (white) men.
Remember that baseball commercial in the late 90’s during the steroid era?
Thank you Quick.
Buffoonatic
Well expressed, MARK. And thanks for the correction. I do remember that photo of Rumpus.
That’s Lincoln at Wellington Ave.
Cuts down on the carbon footprint and also exercise that lazy people so desperately need.
Is it true that the mayor is going to be rollling out new birded polo lanes on North street? You get a wooden mallet when you pick up your scooter and whack the wooden ball up an down North street in the bicycle lane. It’s the new chic game in Paris for the la tee da folk like Tyer.
Marchetti can use his mallet as an emergency gavel.
Recently I witnessed a young child, maybe 5-years-old, alone, rocking on an unattended scooter outside a motel room on Mill Street. Eventually a hefty beefy sized female came out of the door of the motel and got on the scooter with the kid, and without putting a helmet on the 5-year-old the hefty beefy female rode off with the kid.
Did you know Berkshire county is installing free Narcan dispensers?
What they don’t know is people will take them and then sell them to buy drugs.
“Naloxone access may unintentionally increase opioid abuse through two channels: (1) saving the lives of active drug users, who continue abusing opioids, and (2) reducing the risk per use, thereby making riskier opioid use more appealing. By increasing the number of opioid users who need to fund their drug purchases, Naloxone laws may also increase theft.”
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3135264
True that. Bad idea. Good comment, QUICK.
You can get free Narcan at numerous places. A year or so ago I had opioids after a major surgery and Walgreens essentially insisted I take it with me
Note to Joe Curtis. Narcan has no effect on a preparation H overdose.
Yes but they don’t have unlimited and unmonitored access at Walgreens. It’s OTC and they give you one.
and Walgreens gets nicely reimbursed for every one they dole out. All distributors do. (just like the free Covid tests and shots) City may get a promotional bonus. Is this about saving lives or making money? Is one incidental to the other?
How about they put air bags on the scooters so when a kid shoots out from behind a car into the path of a bus he does not get banged up as much?
Speaking of air bags, if Marchetti loses the election will he be happier than if he wins? I think so.
SNARK
You ask an interesting question. How much does Pete really want this, deep inside. Only he knows the answer to that.
Probably will never know what he feels deep inside.
We know this, Krol is willing to leave his kids in Newton, skip his weekends with them, and stay out late with that Asian 20 something.
He’s leaving kids, his ex-wife, his new wife, her kids so he can spend some late nights out and about.
You “know” this like Gronk “knows” quantum physics. Does JK worry you THAT much, to make up lies? And I know, so don’t bother to tell me. You’re not a Marchetti supporter. But of course.
The epidemic of 30 to 40 year old men riding stolen bicycles is the real problem. This rat infested hole called North street and its surrounding area is never going to change maybe never. Zero Economic development! zero new Jobs! Zero new fresh ideas on how to think outside the box.
The two nitwits running for Mayor will only seal the deal. Your current Senator and state Reps are completely useless. Not even going to mention the city council
Someone just fell off a scooter. Don’t know details. Came across the police scanner.
Woman was riding a scooter and hit a crack in the street. Smashed her head into the curb.
Head injury. Cant make it up. Bird scooter into a pothole…Wow Planet Nostra Damas stuff
Never happened. Not in the paper. NO video available. No one saw anything. Hospital not talking. Authorities in denial. Can’t sue a bankrupt company anyway. May have been an actor doing a scene for a movie.
“Nothing to see here, folks. Now run along. Everything’s under control. Don’t worry. Be happy.”
Maybe someone will notify lampylousy. Scooters are dangerous. Fall on your head without a helmet on you could die. Dan,this call came in at Friday 14th at approximately 4 50 p m.
Today in downtown Pittsfield’s vibrant and dynamic rat-infested hole called North Street I saw a Mau Mau in violation of the open container law. I watched as this witchy looking woman crack open a nip bottle of Fireball as she staggered across the street. And it wasn’t even noon yet.
But I digress, while conducting extra patrols Pittsfield Police Anti-Crime Unit arrested suspects on Drug and Firearms charges at Burbank Park. ALL CITY PARKS, INCLUDING BURBANK PARK, ARE CLOSED FROM DUSK TO DAWN And yet, city officials have bent over backwards to allow Springside Park to be turned into a Shanty Town by houseless transients. This Shanty Town/Homeless Encampment hosts several violations, including, but not limited to, illicit drug abuse, Alcohol in City Parks, vandalism, bonfires and illegal dumping of both garbage and raw sewage. And all of it authorized by City Officials.
Council Grades
Maffuccio F
Marchetti F
Kavey F-
Lampylousy F –
Conant C
Kalinowsky B-
Warren D+
Fudd D-
Kronick A-
Persip A
White F
I don’t understand these grades. Kalinowsky “B-” but Kronick “A-” and Persip “A”?
Kalnowsky rebutted Councilor Persip’s insult cast at dissenting (presumed) councilors who oppose increasing government departments and payroll. Some would even think there was a threat implied in those words. I give Councilor Kalinowsky an A for that.
Councilor Kronick could have made a better point and more of them, but he didn’t want to piss himself off.
I revised this: too late for the cut:
I don’t understand these grades. Kalinowsky “B-” but Kronick “A-” and Persip “A”?
Kalinowsky rebutted Persip’s insult cast towards those dissenting councilors, those who have not kissed the ring, who oppose increasing government departments and payroll. His words threatened: keep your mouth shut or face the mudslinging sure to follow from nine earnest councilors. I give Councilor Kalinowsky an A for her evening. Actually, A+ since I couldn’t do any better.
I agree. An A+. ..Some of these councilors get their balls all puffed up sitting on that Dias. But if you are a puppet the size of your balls will always be small. But go ahead and play Mr. T up there buddy.
talkin at persip
These die ambassadors will help retain the employees here? Whaaaa?
Now men can also steal menstrual cycles. So watch out.
Is Krol or Marchetti going to get rid of the scooters?
Don’t like Krols answer and he’s not even mayor yet. Doesn’t want to comment on personnel issues. Another time it was by Marchetti when He was asked If he would come in with a flat tax for schools,he says ‘kI’m not gonna cut just a cut’’ ……so both of these guys are phonies.
Marchetti, White, lampilazy, Persip, Kavey, Conant and Tyer will be riding them in the Independence Day parade.
Don’t they have a weight limit?
They must, because i have never seen the Mayor on one.
They ought ride right out of town. What an ensemble.
True dat. Eight of them would need to be very careful that their puppet strings did not get tangled together.
Bird scooter accident on East Street this afternoon. Young girl with a head injury. Looked serious when I drove by it. Flat Tyer, Ricky Rumpuss and Mikey Wynn will cover this up as though it never happened! Wonder about how the folks whose vehicles were damaged by the Bird scooters last season have made out with their claims for damages?
Yeah and she hit a pothole. Can you say lawsuit from Heaven.
Good luck finding a police report on that one
Bicyclists are required to wear helmets but not scooters?
Hope she is OK. I am sure she is in the mayors thoughts and prayers.
Ditto that hoping she’s not serious.
Of course we don’t want her hurt. We want her to collect that lawsuit against the city also.
Was it the little black girls or the fat white one
Already. E too Ed above M
For all the Dahli Lama fans
https://youtube.com/shorts/J8nUeXoidJc?feature=share
https://youtu.be/SQZBuABbxLo
Had the displeasure of stopping at the Pittsfield Library today. What a sight and should I say Piss Smell. Doesnt the library have cleaning staff that can hose down the area every morning or get Pfd over there to spray it down. Summer is coming with more vistors in the area and school getting out soon take some pride clean it up. If the houseless are caught pissing outside call Ppd, no trespass the offenders. Good people should not be subjected to the smell and the hanger rounders.
Where the hell was Alex?
Somewhere there must be a huge pile of number 2 lurking out there as well. And I am not talking about the mayoral election.
(or am I)
Bird scooter accident is listed as emergency medical call. Nothing about accident?
LAWSUIT. Pothole. City liable if no helmet was worn and that includes city council,mayor,DPW and city attorney at Civil.
This scooter accident is just the reason for Lamlylousy to be voted out. Isn’t she the one that made the comment if changed the bike lanes could result in death? Where was she on the scooter vote? Didn’t hear one thing about her concern for these reckless two wheelers. Why was she all for them when safety was a concern?
The ass hat who is the director of the “LIBRARY “, wants to run it like a social service hub. Time for him to go. Can’t even get to the newspapers without going through the hobo, layabout section.
This guy wants to be a personality. We don’t have employees we have actors and actresses and social inclusion ass hats who by the way control OUR tax dollars.
He is definitely a character. Should be hung in a museum, quite a piece of work.
April 15, 2023
Re: Massachusetts State Rep. Sellout Shakedown’s state budget bill
Hello, Erin Leahy at Act on Mass,
Thank you for your weekly political email about Beacon Hill politics. I always look forward to reading your commentary about the secretive, inequitable and corrupt career politicians on Beacon Hill. The state budget that 150 out of 160 Massachusetts State Representatives voted for is even worse than what the 50-year-old Massachusetts State Lottery’s $50 scratch ticket stands for in Boston. Once again, the fictional Massachusetts State Representative Sellout Shakedown voted in favor of the financial, corporate and ruling elites to the tune of tens of billions of state tax breaks, while the common people pound sand.
Why do these corrupt career politicians get reelected for life? They are shafting the very people who vote them into elected office every two years. I would not go to a bank and ask for my deposits to be given to millionaires and billionaires, but that is what voters are doing when they reelect the likes of Lenox State Rep. Smitty Pignatelli, Pittsfield State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, and North Adams State Rep. John Barrett III. You, Erin Leahy, wrote that the final vote in the State House will happen sometime during the week of April 24th. That gives newspaper editorials, letter writers, and constituents over one full week to communicate their disgust to the fictional State Representative Sellout Shakedown.
Lastly, let us remember that while the common people are struggling to pay their household bills, small businesses are trying to meet payroll, and local governments and public-school districts are trying to pass their own governmental budgets without raising taxes above the rate of inflation and new growth, Beacon Hill lawmakers are still sitting on over $7 billion to possibly $10 billion in surplus state cash.
Best wishes,
Jonathan A. Melle
Birds aren’t real.
Burn baby, burn.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/democrats-favorite-green-mode-transportation-causing-explosions-deaths
JOE
A great example of poetic justice.
Gay Pedo dead by suicide
A former Connecticut Planned Parenthood honcho took his own life days after police failed to arrest him on child pornography charges — botching the raid by knocking down the door of the suspect’s New Haven neighbor.
Tim Yergeau, 36, the former director of strategic communications at the Southern New England branch of Planned Parenthood, died by suicide on Tuesday amid a child pornography investigation in Connecticut last week.
“The person who died was definitely the suspect in a child pornography investigation and the person who committed suicide,” New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson told the New Haven Registrar.
Five days earlier, members of the Special Victims Unit investigating the child pornography case reportedly broke down the door of Yergeau’s neighbor — and handcuffed the woman before realizing they had raided the wrong apartment.
The investigation was initiated by a complainant from a tech company who found thousands of images of children as young as three years old engaged in sexual acts on Yergeau’s Planned Parenthood laptop.
Planned Parenthood would not confirm if they did any form of internal investigation or contacted the police. Yergeau was given a glowing recommendation from the director of
Southern New England Planned Parenthood.
Good riddance. Yergeau decreased the surplus population by one and saved the taxpayers millions by “taking the pipe.”